|
|
|
|
Home
Projects Services |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance Activity Mentoring Systems – Phase II (MMS
II) DoD participants: NADEP Cherry Point, Albany MC3 and Barstow MC3 In order to test the effectiveness of distributed learning technologies for maintenance activities, a Maintenance Mentoring System (MMS) was developed by L3 Communications (formerly EER Systems) as part of the MMS II project. The MMS was pilot tested at the Naval Air Depot (NADEP) Cherry Point, North Carolina to provide timely and accurate procedural and required reference information to the F-402-408B Harrier aircraft engine assembly workers. The MMS provides a window-based electronic performance support system on portable computers viewable with a non-proprietary web browser. The MMS integrates data and procedures from technical manuals with other job-related materials (e.g. schematics, wiring diagrams, instructive videos, parts data, and audio snippets). This data is arranged according to a technician’s natural work sequence and immediate information needs, eliminating time-consuming cross referencing. Additionally, the MMS was to facilitate the implementation of ISO 9000 by improving the ability of the workers to interact with and provide improvements to the existing process and procedures.Didactics, another collaborative team member, conducted an independent effectiveness evaluation of the MMS implementation at the NADEP and compared it to the traditional paper-based approach. The objective was two fold: to determine the extent to which the MMS was effective at capturing experience knowledge thereby reducing the time for artisan certification, and to determine any savings in time for engine repair and assembly. Following the evaluation, findings were recorded, conclusions were made and recommendations were provided. Conclusions were: · The use of the MMS saved 62 minutes out of a total 682 minutes for Stage I F-402-408B engine assembly. This results in a cost savings of $1,925/engine in labor and $73,440/engine in unavailable aircraft downtime for a total of $75,365 for this one model of engine at this one depot. Substantial savings would therefore ensue when MMS is fully employed across all services. · The MMS is effective at capturing experience knowledge through the Make-a-Note feature. However, since it has not been implemented as part of standard operating procedures, no decrease in certification time could be established. · The MMS provides a significant reduction in engine assembly time, a savings of 9% which would increase to 15% should all local documentation transactions be incorporated. These savings should increase over time as the artisans move beyond their learning curve with the MMS. · The MMS is well received and is successfully being used at the NADEP. · The MMS can be successfully implemented across the NADEP as implementation issues are being refined and overcome. Recommendations are: · Include all local procedural change documentation in the MMS. · Operationalize the Make-a-Note feature to address artisan certification. · Conduct additional study to show even greater savings up to 30% with the MMS when using diagnostics and troubleshooting tasks. · Implement the MMS at the feeder Community Colleges for recruits to decrease the time to certification. Program Manager: Mike Gnam, mikeg@ncms.org, (734) 995-4971.
|